The Monastic Center

The Monastic Center is for men who desire a deeper life of prayer. Participants in the Monastic Center program experience Benedictine spirituality in a more intimate way than is available to our regular guests.

With private rooms in a specially designated area of our Guesthouse, participants in the Monastic Center share in the silence and solitude so conducive to the monastic way of prayer and contemplation. Participants join the monks in the monastic choir for the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day, the heart and soul of our day. The solitude and the communal prayer are balanced by manual work. Monastic Center participants join us in the afternoon work period as another form of prayer as well as practical service.

It takes discipline and fidelity to follow the schedule of monastic work and prayer but participants find that it provides a balance to their day. An environment of simplicity without distractions can awaken new and deeper levels of awareness of the presence of God.

Requirements: Men between the ages of 18 and 70 who are in good health are eligible. There is no charge, but a free-will offering can be made. We suggest a few days for the first visit.

For more information and an application, send an email to the Secretary of the Monastic Center at mc@newmelleray.org

Click here to download the Monastic Center brochure (pdf).